How to break jaggery or unrefined sugar blocks in minutes is the question that comes to my mind when I want to make a sweet with jaggery.
The season of the festival has begun and some of you like me might have a hard time breaking the jaggery into pieces.
Here is a quick tip on crushing jaggery into pieces less than 30 secs in the microwave method and also I tried in instant pot method.
Now first let us how to break jaggery in minutes using the microwave method.
what is jaggery? (Source: Wikipedia)
Jaggery is a traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar[1] consumed in some countries in Asia and the Americas.[2] It is a concentrated product of cane juice and often date or palm sap (see: palm sugar) without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color.[2]
It contains up to 50% sucrose, up to 20% invert sugars, and up to 20% moisture, with the remainder, made up of other insoluble matter, such as wood ash, proteins, and bagasse fibers.[2]
Ancient scriptures on Ayurveda mention various medicinal uses based on the method of preparation and age.
Jaggery is often used as a replacement for sugar. Unlike sugar, Jaggery is produced using traditional methods of distillation and contains trace amounts of micronutrients such as iron, potassium, magnesium, and B-vitamins.
Jaggery is also consumed for its supposed digestive and other benefits, although research is yet to bear those out.
How to break jaggery Microwave method:
Place the jaggery in a bowl and microwave it for 10 seconds in medium power.
Take it out and press it with your fingers, it just crumbles into pieces.
How to break jaggery Instant pot method:
For any dessert, you make with the instant pot.
Place the jaggery in a bowl with 1/4cup of water at least and 1 cup water in the inner pot.
Do pressure cook 1 minute and QR. Your jaggery syrup is ready.
Here is a chana dal kheer recipe I tried using the jaggery PIP method. It came out yummy
NOTE:
Microwave power settings vary from one another. So start with 5 secs and keep checking until it’s done else it will start melting inside.